Book trimming machine



Feb. 2, 1965 w. B. MCCAIN 3,167,987

' BOOK TRIMMING MACHINE Filed Aug. 23, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fag/J.-

Inventor William. 3.,M cairv 85/ Mam? fl-Hzornebys Feb. 2, 1965 w, B, MCCAIN 3,167,987

BOOK TRIMMING MACHINE Filed Aug. 23, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor wifiliam .35. M Cain. 32/ a /1 W Feb. 2, 1965 w. B. M CAIN BOOK TRIMMING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 23, 1963 F g'gil -if- Fl B5 56 ii Inventor William. B. M Cai 5g MDM Jl-khrnew United States Patent Office 3,167,937 hatented Feb. 2, 1965 This invention'relates to a book trimming machine, and in particular to one that is adapted to trim the head and foot of books of the magazine type.

ln'the instance of books of the character represented by magazines, entertainment guides, newspaper insert supplements and the like, the folded signatures that make up such books are associated with a cover. The signatures may be joined in so-called saddle-stitched fashion with the folded back of one signature inserted in the fold of the next signature (chevron-style) in which event the backbone of the book is substantially V-shaped when viewed on end; or the signatures may be laid one atop another with their backs aligned, in which event the back-bone of thecomple-ted book is square.

It is customary to staple the cover to the signatures of a saddle-stitched book, at the time the signatures themselves .are stapled at the backbone, whereas in a squareback book the cover is usually glued in place.

Of whatever form the signatures are conventionally passed through a trimming machine where evenness of the pages is assured by trimming each book at the front, parallel to the backbone, and at the head and foot, that is, along lines transverse to the back-bone.

It is found that the underside of the cover and adjacent pages are usually torn at the head and foot immediately adjacent the backbone as an incident to head and foot trimming, and this condition, while prevalent and wellknown as a defect, has for these many years been considered a necessary evil. In fact, the condition is known in the art as cover break-out, and the primary object of the present invention is to avoid this condition in an eflicient and comparatively inexpensive manner.

; The presentinvention is embodied in an otherwise conventional machine in which a pair of upper, vertically reciprocal knives cooperate with a pair of lower counter blades to shear neatly the head and foot of the signatures making up the book. Specifically, it is an object of the present invention to avoid cover break-out in a book of the kind described by supporting the back' of the book, at the head and foot thereof, with a pair of dies having smooth shearing surfaces that are respectively in the planes of the shearing surfaces presented by the counter blades, and which are in the path of the reciprocal cutting knives. Such dies can be separate elements apart from the counter blades, or can be included as integral parts of the counter blades.

, Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments of th e present invention and the principles thereof and what is now considered to be the best mode contemplated for applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view of the underside of a so-called saddle-stitched book and illustrating the defect known as break-out of the cover;

"FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the'manner in which the signatures of a saddle-stitched book are collected on a saddle;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a trimming machine in which a book of the character illustrated in FIG. 1 is trimmed;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detail elevational view on an enlarged scale. in comparison to FIG. 3 and illustrating the cutting actionunder and in accordance with the-present invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the parts shown in FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is a detail view illustrating modified apparatus constructed under and in accordance with the present FIG. 13 is a view of another modified form of theinvention.

In FIG. 1 there is illustrated the underside of a book comprising signatures'S enclosed in 'a soft cover C. In forming a book of this' kind in a signature collecting machine (not shown), the individual signatures are first, as shown in FIG. 2, collected on atop another on a saddle SD defined by inclined plates of inverted V-form as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, in the signature collecting machine,

a signature as S1 is dropped onto the saddle atop another as S2, the folds of the signatures interfitting. Ultimately, the cover is positioned atop the collected signatures, whereafter the collected sheets including the cover are moved to a stitching station (not shown) where wire staples or the like as W1 and W2, FIG. 1, are used to join the signatures and the cover to complete the book.

The bound book is then transferred to aso-called threekriife trimming machinewhere the head H and foot F ofthe book, FIGS. 1 and 4, are trimmed along with a neat trimming of the front of the book that is opposite theso-called backbone edge BB.

The head and foot of the book are trimmed by reciprocatin'g'knives that cooperate with counter blades as will be described, and it is a troublesome feature of the con ventional three-knife trimming machine that the head and foot of the cover at the ends of the backbone BB are torn,

or pulled out, producing the jagged dog ears DB1 and DEZ, FIG. 1. Such tearing of the cover is the rule and not the exception in the conventional trimming machine, and for the most part has been tolerated more or less as a necessary evil. defect, an imperfection in the book, and while the foregoing has been explained with reference to a saddle stitched book of the kind illustrated in FIG. 1, characterized by a V-shaped backbone BB, break-out is also a prevalent occurrence in the so-called square-back books as will be explained in detail hereinafter.

Under and in accordance with the present invention, break-out of the cover is overcome by supporting the back of the book at the head and foot thereof by a pair of dies that are moved into and out of the path that the book follows through the trimming machine. These dies present supporting surfaces complemental to the contour of' the backbone of the book, andalso present outershearing' faces that are continuations of the vertical cutting faces of the counter blades which cooperate with the conventional head and 'foot trimming knives that are present in the machine.

One form of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 6, where the trimming machine 15 is shown as inclusive of a cutting bed or table 20 that extends to a trimmingstation to which the books to be trimmed are However, the dog cars do represent aadvanced by conveyor means including resilient gripper pads 21 and 22 carried respectively by upper and lower endless bands 23 and 24. The gripper pads are spaced position on the cutting bed while the trimming knives are actuated. If desired, so-ca1ledkickers may be used to finally register the books with the stops. In the: form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 3, two books Bland B2 are advanced by the cooperating grippers to the trim-, ming station in superimposed relationship, the bands'and the gripping pads thereon being spaced accordingly. The trimmed books are delivered by grippers 25 on an endless belt-26." e i Trimming of the head and foot is accomplished by a pair of knives as 30, FIGS: 3, 5 and'6 having cutting edges 39E which cooperate in the usual way with .sta-

tionary counter blades 31 in the course of neatly-trimming on the respective bandsto advance the bookshorizontally v at the desired rate along the cutting bed until the backposition thereof shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5, While at the same time presenting and accurately positioning the outer shearing face 405 of the die 40in the plane of the shearing faceSlS of therelat'ed counter blade 31.

' 'Thus, the dies'4l) must be accurately positioned to have the outer shearing die, faces 40F thereof,.FIG. 6,

inthe plane of the shearingsurfaces 318 of the counter blades 31.. .In other words, the dies 40in addition to serving to back up or support the'backs of the books to be trimmed. are also in themselves. auxiliary counter blades, and the shear surfaces 40F thereof are so related to the reciprocating knives 30 as to be in the cutting path thereof. v @V Hence, when the head and foot trimming knives are moved through an elfective downward stroke, the knives '39 are effective not only at the head and foot of the trimming. Consequently, it'is found that the backs of the head and foot of the book. To this end'theknife edge'fitlE of each knife 30, FIG; 6, is disposed in the plane of the vertical shearing surface 318 presented bythe related counter blade 31, and the'knives are reciprocated along correspondingsubstantially vertical paths by so-called draw rods .(not shown). Knives having a partly transverse "stroke can also .be used, as is well known.

After the head and foot have been trimmed, the dies 40 and the stop means that engage books at the "trimming station are depressed, and the trimmed books are then quent occurrence when trimming the headandfoot conventionally by knives as 30 and the cooperating counter bladesSl. Such break-out is prevented under and in accordance with one form of the present invention by moving a pair of dies 40 .into engagement with the back BB of each book located at the trimming station in'position to be trimmed. I e

' Thus, and referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the pair of dies 40 for supporting the backs of the two books B1 and B2 are shaped to have forward faces-configured complemental to the V-configuration of the conventional saddle-stitched books B1 and B2. a forward face that includes a pair of vertically'spaced, generally V-shaped pockets 42 and 43, FIG. 5, adapted toneatly embrace the backbone edges of the books B1 and B2 advanced thereto by the conveyor means 25.

. Each die as 40 is in the form of anarmmounted in 'themachine to'be movable into and out of. the path of a To this end,'each book through the trimming station. die 49 is pivot'ally'related to the machinev by having the same journalled on pins as 45 located beneath the cutting table. While the specific manner in which this is accomplished can take different forms, such pivotal mounting is achieved conveniently by extending a'stationary lug 46, FIG. 5, from the counter blade beneath the cuttingsurface presented by the cutting bed or table 20, and securing thereto the pivot pin 45 for each'die 4 0;: The dies are joined by a bail 40B and are operatedin unison by an arm 47 secured-to a rock shaft 48,-.the arm being slotted at one end; to embrace a drive pin 49 fixed to one of the dies 40.

Additionally, the .underside of each counter blade 31 that is related to each die 40 is advantageously undercut or recessed at 31A, FIG. 5, in order that the relateddie can be pivoted on the support pin 45 between the elevated position, shown in full lines in FIG. 5, and the depressed Thus, each die 40 has the books are as accuratelyand neatly trimmed as the head and foot thereof, and inparticularthe underside of the cover is trimmed without break-outand with the same precision as the head and foot trimmed by the knives 30.

The form of the invention described above is concerned with the circumstance of advancing a pair of juxtaposed books to the trimming station. Of course, there be but a single book at a time advanced to the trimming station, and moreover the book may have a square back characterizedby a cover-that is glued to the signatures. InFIGS. 7 and 8 there are illustrated break-out prevention dies that accommodate such books at the trimming station under andIin accordance with the principle of the present invention, and these will now be described.

Thus, and referring first to FIG. 7,' a single book B3 of the saddle-stitched type (V-shaped back) has-been advariced to the cutting station to be engaged at the backbone edge thereof by a pair of diesas 40A each of which has the forward face formed with a single pocket 51' configured complemental to the back of the book B3, whereby lated counter blade as 31, and in the path of the knives 30. The diesv 40A can be moved between an effective and the headand'foot of the book B4, is prevented by a die 55 having a forward face 56 of a true planar character conforming to the flat nature of the backbone of the: book B4. Again, there are a'pair of'such dies 55 pivotally supported'at the trimmingstation for rocking movement into and out of the path of thebook B4lin the 'manner described above in connection'with FIG; 5, andwith the outer faces thereof in the. plane of the die faces of the counter bladesin the path of the knives 30.

In the form of the invvention described above, the dies which prevent break-out of the cover'are separable parts considered from the standpoint 'of the counter blades.

. However, the break-out. prevention dies can be formed as integral parts of the counter blades, while'rnaking provision 'for so moving the modified counter blades asvto position the break-out prevention dies in the path of the book through the trimming station.

'Thus, and referring to FIGS. 9 through 12, the conventional trimming machine is modified [so that .counter blades, ratherthan being stationary, are invthe form of shiftab le blocks as 60, FIG. 11, there being a shiftable counter blade as 60 at each 'side of the trimming station in position to cooperate with the related vertically movable upper knife 30, FIG.,10. Each counter blade is equipped with a die 61 configured at the forward face thereof to present a pair of pockets 62 and 63 complemental to the backbone edges of a pair of juxtaposed saddle-stitched books B5 and B6 advanced to the trimming station, Again, however, if but a single book is advanced to the trimming station, or if the book is of the square back form, FIG. 8, thenthe integral dies on the counter blades will have the forward edges thereof configured accordingly.

The counter blades equipped with the break-out prevention dies 61 are provided on the inner faces thereof with guide slots 65, FIG. 11, and these guide slots embrace related ribs 66 in fixed parts of the machine serving as cams for accurately positioning the counter blades at the time head and foot trimming is to be completed.

To this end, each of the ribs 66 is provide on the outer face of a guide block 70 fixedly secured to the frame of the machine at each side of the cutting table 20 at the trimming station in any desired fashion. The counter blades 60 are retained in operative position by gibs 76.

The ribs 66 and related slots 65 are accurately dimensioned with precision to enable each counter blade 60 to be moved from a retracted or ineffective position 60R, FIG. 11, to an elevated position, FIG. 9, where the die pockets 62 and 63 are in position to engage the backbones of the books B5 and B6 advanced into engagement therewith. Such movement of the counter blades is accomplished by links as '75 pivotally secured to the counter blades as shown, for example, in FIG. 11, so that rocking motion of the link 75 is accompanied by forward movement of the counter blades to present the dies 61 in their effective positions, with return motion of the link 75 being effective to dispose the counter blades in the ineffective, dotted line position 60R shown in FIG. 9.

As in the forgoing embodiments of the invention, the break-out prevention dies 61 present precision outer shear faces 61F, FIG. 10, that are in the plane of the shearing faces 605 of the counter blades 60, and in fact, in the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 12, the outer shearing faces of the dies 60 are extensions of the shearing surfaces of the counter blades 60.

In FIG. 13 is illustrated another modification of the invention, applicable in particular to single books, as for example the book B advanced to the trimming station. In this instance, the dies 80 are in the form of blocks composed of a tough, durable plastic or similar composition material easily finished to present outwardly disposed shear faces that are in the plane of and within the shearing strokes of the head and foot trimming knives. There are a pair of such dies 80 having shear faces accurately located at the head and foot backbone position of the book B10 at the trimming station, and advantageously the blocks 80 are simply bonded to the cutting table as by a suitable cement. Each die 80 includes a forward face 80F that engages the backbone of the book for the purpose disclosed in full detail above in connection with the dies 40 and 61. After trimming, the feed pads merely force the trimmed books B10 past the dies 80 that are permanently fixed, and in this connection it may be noted that it is important to utilize auxiliary stops with the dies 80 to assure that each book is accurately stopped at the trimming station with the backbone thereof complementally engaged with the faces 80F of the die 80.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the present invention is characterized by a book trimming machine equipped with break-out prevention dies which present shearing faces in the planes of the shearing faces of the counter blades that cooperate with standard head and foot trimming knives. The dies have forward faces that engage and support the backbone of the book during the head and foot trimming thereof, and in fact are shaped complemental thereto; and advantageously the break-out prevention dies may be moved into and out of the trimming station automatically in timed sequence to the movement of the books into and out of the trimming station, such being accomplished by appropriate timing in the operation of the arm 47 or the link 75. The breakout prevention dies can be of any appropriate material and need not be of honed metal; in fact, it is possible to have the dies of a suitable hard, smooth plastic. Hence while I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of my invention it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not 'wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall Within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a book trimming machine wherein books are advanced to a trimming station each to have the head and foot thereof trimmed, means affording a cutting table along which the books are advanced to the cutting station and on which each book is supported while being trimmed, a pair of knives and cooperating counter blades presenting substantially vertical shearing faces at the trimming station for trimming the head and foot of each book adadvanced to the trimming station, a pair of break-out prevention dies simultaneously engageable with the back of each book at the head and foot thereof, said dies each having a forward face that presents a profile complemental to the back of the book to be trimmed so that when engaged with the book back the dies support the book back during the head and foot trimming operation, means to elevate and depress said dies relative to the path of travel of the books through the trimming station, means to advance a book into engagement with the dies in their elevated position and to advance a trimmed book from the trimming station with said dies depressed, said dies having fiat, smooth outer shearing faces that are respectively in the plane of the shearing faces of said counter blades, and said knives having cutting strokes that include both the counter blades and said dies.

2. In a book trimming machine wherein books are advanced to a trimming station each to have the head and foot thereof trimmed, a pair of knives and cooperating counter blades presenting shearing faces at the trimming station for trimming the head and foot of each book advanced to the trimming station, die means at the trimming station engageable with the back of each book at the head and foot thereof, said die means presenting a profile in the path of the books complemental to the back of the book to be trimmed so that when engaged with the book back the die means support the book back during the trimming operation, means to elevate and depress said die means relative to the path of travel of the books through the trimming station, means to advance a book to the die means with its back in engagement with the die means in the elevated position thereof and to advance a trimmed book from the trimming station with said die means depressed, said die means having shearing faces that are respectively in the planes of the shearing faces of said counter blades, and said knives having cutting strokes that include both kinds of shearing faces.

3. In a book trimming machine wherein books are advanced to a trimming station each to have the sheets thereof trimmed at one end along a line transverse to the back of the book, a knife and cooperating counter blade presenting a shearing face at the trimming station for trimring said one end of each book advanced to the trimming station, die means engageable with the back of each book at said one end thereof, said die means having a forward face that presents a profile complemental to the back of the book to be trimmed so that when engaged with the book back the die means supports the book back during the trimming operation, means to elevate and depress said die means relative to the path of travel of the books through the trimming station, means to advance a book into engagement with the die means in the elevated position thereof and to advance a trimmed book from the trimming station with said die means depressed, said die means having a shearing face in the plane of the shearing face of said counterblade, and said knife having a'cutting stroke that includes both of said shearing faces.

4. In a book trimming machine wherein books are advanced to a trimming station each to have the head and foot thereof trimmed, means affording a cutting table along which the books are advanced to the cutting station and on which each book is supported while being trimmed, a pair of knives and cooperating counter blades presenting shearing faces at the trimming station for trimming the head and foot of each book advanced to the trimming station, a pair of dies engageable with the back of each book at the head and foot thereof, said dies each having a forward face that presents a profile complemental to the back of the book to be trimmed so that when engaged with the book back the dies support the book back during the trimming operation, said dies having shearing faces that are respectively in the planes of the shearing faces of said counter blades, and said knives having Cutting strokes that include both the shearing faces of the dies and the shearing faces of the counter blades.

' 5. In a book trimming machine wherein books are advanced to a trimming station each to have the sheets thereof trimmed at one end along a line transverse to the back a a of the bok, a knifeand cooperating counter blade presenting a flat smooth shear face at the trimming station for trimming said one end of each book advanced to the trimming station, die means engageable with the back of each book precisely at said one end of the book, said die means having a forward face that presents a profile complemental to the back of the book to be trimmed so that when engaged with the book back the die means supports the book back during the trimming operation, said die means having a flat, smooth shear face that is in the plane of the flat, smooth shear face of said counter blade, and

, said knife having acutting stroke that includes both the shear face of the die and'the shear face of the counter blade.

6. In a book trimming machinewherein books are advanced to a trimming station each to have the sheets at one end thereof trimmed along a line transverse to the book'back by a knife and cooperating counter blade presenting a shear face to the knife, a break-out prevention die engageable with the back of each book at said one end thereofisaid die having a forward face that presents a profile complemental to the back of the book for supporting said book and having a shear face in the plane of the shear face of the counter blade, and said knife having a cutting stroke that includes the shear face of the counter blade and the shear face of the die;

7 No reference cited. 

6. IN A BOOK TRIMMING MACHINE WHEREIN BOOKS ARE ADVANCED TO A TRIMMING STATION EACH TO HAVE THE SHEETS AT ONE END THEREOF TRIMMED ALONG A LINE TRANSVERSE TO THE BOOK BACK BY A KNIFE AND COOPERATING COUNTER BLADE PRESENTING A SHEAR FACE TO THE KNIFE, A BREAK-OUT PREVENTION DIE ENGAGEABLE WITH THE BACK OF EACH BOOK AT SAID ONE END THEREOF, SAID DIE HAVING A FORWARD FACE THAT PRESENTS A PROFILE COMPLEMENTAL TO THE BACK OF THE BOOK FOR SUPPORTING SAID BOOK AND HAVING A SHEAR FACE IN THE PLANE OF THE SHEAR FACE OF THE COUNTER BLADE, AND SAID KNIFE HAVING A CUTTING STROKE THAT INCLUDES THE SHEAR FACE OF THE COUNTER BLADE AND THE SHEAR FACE OF THE DIE. 